It Is Gary Leland Day In Arlington, Texas

I thought it was a joke my wife had put together.

The email said the Mayor’s office and the City Council thought I deserved a day named after me in Arlington, Texas. I read it twice before I accepted it was real.

How Does a City Council Know Who I Am?

That was my first question, and the answer turned out to be Kathy.

She had seen a post on Twitter about someone else getting a day proclaimed in Arlington. She decided I was every bit as deserving, emailed the Mayor’s office saying so, and sent them a link to my bio.

Then she said nothing to me about it.

The rest was up to the Mayor and the City Council. Apparently they agreed with her.

The Proclamation

On 28 February 2017, at the City Council meeting, Mayor W. Jeff Williams read this out:

From the Office of the Mayor, Arlington, Texas

Whereas, Gary Leland has become a pioneer in the world of podcasting by being one of the first 100 podcasters; and

Whereas, Mr. Leland’s podcasting website was recognized as one of Time Magazine’s “50 Coolest Websites” in 2006; and

Whereas, Gary created and produced the Fastpitch TV Network for the sport of fastpitch softball, producing an abundance of free softball content for all to use; and

Whereas, Mr. Leland was inducted into the Academy of Podcasters Hall of Fame in Chicago in 2016; and

Whereas, Gary Leland has helped hundreds of aspiring podcasters and young entrepreneurs reach their goals of starting a podcast and growing their business; and

Whereas, Gary created Social Media Arlington, the most active and free Meetup group available for our local marketers in Arlington, Texas; and

Whereas, Gary Leland has successfully owned and operated two retail businesses in Arlington, Texas since 1981.

Now Therefore, I, W. Jeff Williams, Mayor of the City of Arlington, Texas, and on behalf of the Arlington City Council, do hereby proclaim March 1, 2017 as Gary Leland Day.

What I Keep Thinking About

When I recorded my first podcast in 2004, there were almost no podcasters. It was a hobby that most people I knew did not understand and could not see the point of.

I certainly did not think it would end with a mayor reading my name into the record of a city council meeting.

I am honoured, I am a little embarrassed, and I am mostly grateful — to the Mayor and the Council for doing it, and to Kathy for sending the email she never told me about.

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